GAA: Slaughtneil reeled in by 13 man Na Piarsaigh in enthralling semi-final
AIB ALL-IRELAND CLUB SHC SEMI-FINAL Na Piarsaigh 3-15 Slaughtneil 3-8 Michael McMullan in Parnell Park
SLAUGHTNEIL’S heartache on the All-Ireland stage continued on Saturday afternoon. After a storming first-half, Michael McShane’s side led by three points and were in total control but collapsed after the break to 13 man Na Piarsaigh.
The 2016 champions were able to bring Shane Dowling from the bench to make a huge impact scoring a goal and setting up another for Kevin Downes.
Slaughtneil started without Sé McGuigan and Seán Ó Caiside through injury, with Conor McAllister and Mark McGuigan coming into the side.
Team captain Chrissy McKaigue set the tone in the first minute, latching on to a Shane McGuigan pass.
It was point for point, with man of the match Ronan Lynch exceptional for Na Piarsaigh and after 10 minutes the sides were level at 0-3 each.
Cormac O’Doherty edged Slaughtneil ahead before the game’s first goal. Mike Casey fouled Brendan Rogers on his route to goal and O’Doherty hammered home his penalty.
By the 21st minute, the Munster champions were level. Adrian Breen playing in Conor Boylan for a thunderbolt to the net.
Meehaul McGrath hit back with the perfect response with a point in the next attack before Slaughtneil struck for a second goal. Again Rogers was involved and Brian Cassidy slammed past Podge Kennedy helping Slaughtneil into an interval lead, but with nine first-half wides, the Emmet’s should’ve been further ahead.
Half-time: Slaughtneil 2-6 Na Piarsaigh 1-6
Four points early in the second-half from Ronan Lynch (3) and Pater Casey had Na Piarsaigh in the lead.
The Limerick men lost their discipline and had Conor Boylan and Timmy Grimes both send off. It inspired winners into action, as Slaughtneil failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage.
The game turned in the 41st minute. Goalkeeper Kennedy picked out impact man Dowling who fed Kevin Downes for a vital goal.
Brendan Rogers grabbed Slaughtneil’s first point in 14 minutes, one of only three second-half scores as the Na Piarsaigh defence, with Mike Casey inspirational, were tough to break down.
Na Piarsaigh were awarded a penalty in the 47th minute but Oisin O’Doherty made an excellent full-length save.
Luck wasn’t shining on the Emmet’s ‘keeper minutes later. He had his clearance blocked by Shane Dowling and the Limerick senior star flicked the ball to the net – opening a 3-12 to 2-7 lead.
A late Gerald Bradley goal cut the margin in the closing stages but it was Na Piarsaigh who will meet the winners of Saturday’s second semi-final between Liam Mellows and reigning champions Cuala.
NA PIARSAIGH: Podge Kennedy, Jerome Boylan, Mike Casey, Niall Buckley, Alan Dempsey, Cathal King, Tommy Grimes, Ronan Lynch (0-14, 1 ‘65’, 10f), William O’Donoghue, Adrian Breen, David Breen, David Dempsey, Conor Boylan (1-0), Kevin Downes (1-0), Peter Casey (0-1). SUBS: Kieran Kennedy for T Grimes (blood sub 24, reversed 25), Shane Dowling (1-0) for A Breen (HT), Kevin Ryan for D Breen (55), K Kennedy for D Dempsey (56), Gordon Brown for K Downes (60).
SLAUGHTNEIL: Oisin O’Doherty, Paul McNeill, Sean Cassidy, Karl McKaigue, Shane McGuigan, Meehaul McGrath (0-1), Cormac McKenna, Éanna Ó Caiside, Conor McAllister, Chrissy McKaigue (0-1), Mark McGuigan, Gerald Bradley (1-0), Cormac O’Doherty (1-3, 1f), Brendan Rogers (0-1), Brian Cassidy (1-2). SUBS: Gareth O’Kane for C McAllister (48).
REF: John Keenan (Wicklow).
Reports, photos and reaction in Tuesday’s County Derry Post.